This 89.2-mile drive from Ankeny to Carroll, Iowa, is a straightforward journey taking approximately 1 hour and 56 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it requires no overnight stops, making it a convenient option for a quick excursion within the Midwest. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $14. Expect a local, turn-heavy driving experience rather than a high-speed highway cruise. This trip offers a practical way to connect two points in Iowa without significant travel time or expense.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.6 miles from Ankeny, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
43.6 mi
57m
I 35
18.1 mi
19m
I 35 Bus
12.9 mi
15m
County Road N33
10.3 mi
13m
US 30
2.3 mi
4m
West 1st Street
1.5 mi
3m
Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Southwest 3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 43.6 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ankeny, IA and Carroll, IA.
1
Start on Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·4 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
1.5 mi·3 min·West 1st Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
5
Merge onto I 35
18 mi·19 min·I 35
6
Take the exit onto I 35 Bus
0.3 mi·40 sec·I 35 Bus
Toward Business I 35, US 30: Ames, Iowa State University, Nevada
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 Bus
13 mi·15 min·I 35 Bus
Toward Business I 35, US 30 West: Ames, Iowa State University
8
Continue on US 30
44 mi·57 min·220th Street
9
Continue on US 30
10 mi·13 min·County Road N33
10
Continue on US 30
2.3 mi·4 min·US 30
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right
74 ft·10 sec
12
Turn left
129 ft·9 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under two hours, this 89.2-mile trip offers a lot of flexibility for departure times. Leaving Ankeny in the morning allows you to reach Carroll with plenty of daylight remaining. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is not excessively long, you can decide on breaks as needed, perhaps stopping for a quick refreshment in a small town along the way. Keep an eye on your GPS as you'll be making numerous turns on local roads, making it easy to miss a crucial junction if you're not paying attention. The $14 fuel cost is minimal, so you likely won't need extensive fuel planning.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.6 miles from Ankeny, IA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.6 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carroll, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ankeny, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ankeny, IA
This is one driving day of about 89.2 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Ankeny, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on 220th Street for about 43.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 89.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Southwest Walnut Street
Turn right onto Southwest Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|West 1st Street
At end of road, turn right onto West 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
20.1 mi into trip|~24m in|I 35 Bus
Take the exit onto I 35 Bus toward Business I 35, US 30: Ames, Iowa State University, Nevada
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Business I 35, US 30: Ames, Iowa State U...
6
20.4 mi into trip|~25m in|I 35 Bus
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 Bus toward Business I 35, US 30 West: Ames, Iowa State University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Business I 35, US 30 West: Ames, Iowa St...
5
89.2 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.95 one way
$27.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.31
$30.62
premium
$4.89
$17.17
$34.33
diesel
$5.61
$19.69
$39.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.8
0
$9.37
$4.28
Efficient EV
22.3
0
$7.81
$3.57
EV Truck/SUV
35.7
0
$12.49
$5.71
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ankeny, IA
Night
in Ankeny on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Carroll, IA
Night
in Carroll on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' indicating a need for constant attention to navigation rather than a relaxed highway cruise. With a highway share of 0%, you'll be navigating a series of local roads for the entire 89.2 miles. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent intersections and changes in direction. The driving experience will likely involve navigating through towns and rural landscapes with a focus on precise steering and adherence to local road conditions.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.6 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Southwest Walnut Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ankeny, IA to Carroll, IA is easy. At 1h 56m with 37% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles (I 35 Bus): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ankeny, IA and Carroll, IA, road signs point toward Business I 35, Iowa State University and Nevada.
Business I 35
20.1 mi in|~24m|via I 35 Bus
Iowa State University
20.1 mi in|~24m|via I 35 Bus
Nevada
20.1 mi in|~24m|via I 35 Bus
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 89.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 43.6 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Southwest Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles (I 35 Bus): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carroll, IA before heading back.
